Once You're Employed, Spoken Agreements Have No More Meaning...

[lostinisaan]

Hello and Sawasdee khrap,

It's obvious that many things in the last 12 years have changed here regarding teaching and the times are over, where superiors of schools appreciated to have a foreigner who'd settled down here, speaks their language, etc....

When I started teaching, it was more an experience for me and it turned out that I liked it a lot. Almost everything was different, after one year of teaching at my first school, all foreigners received a free ticket back to their home country, plus a bonus. You didn't see guys working for agencies, not many foreigners worked at schools in let's say Sisaket.

Once a catholic school in Sisaket started hiring Filipinos and paid them 12 K/month, schools tried to pay less money, which is understandable. But 25 K 12 years ago was pretty much similar to 35 K now. Plus cheap gasoline, food, etc.....

Nowadays you find schools in almost every province, using an agency, with always changing, or non existing staff. There're kids at a well known primary school, who've had 15 different foreign teachers in the last five years. Some were there only for a one month salary and then disappeared somewhere together with their rucksack...

Others are still here, got a family, kids, and many of them made this country to theirs.Trying to handle the always changing laws and requirements and supporting their families.

Many things at my former school were lies. You'll get more money if the kids win a competition? In addition to teaching, you've to conduct seminars for Thai English teachers, prepare kids for all sorts of competitions and other weekend, or holiday activities, when the school year's over.

A seminar here, another one there, where they pay you 400 baht a day, even knowing that the going rate is 600 baht/hour.

Then a phone call of a school that wanted to hire me, as I'd sent my resume to them about two years ago. I'll have a problem with the Khurusapha, if I start for you. Immediately a response. " No problem, the director's brother works there." Then the salary. They offered even less money, I was already making.

I stood up, thanked them all for the nice "chat", but they called me back that they wanted me. Okay, not too bad, as my wife's from this area.

Then I quit my former position, went on a visa run, as I needed a new Non-B. I gave them the bills, but they didn't reimburse anything. Was different in the interview.

I thought well, they might pay for the work permit and visa, once it will be extended. Time's passing by, I didn't even get a contract, nor other needed documents for Khurusapha. It turns out that it was just a lie that the director's brother would have a friend at Khurusapha.

Having only 10 more days left on my visa, I finally had to go to Bangkok, had good luck, as they gave me a third waiver. But it seems only for the reason as my second was still valid until next year in May, and I do have an education related degree, which created pure confusion.

When I came back from Bangkok, straight to the DOL, submitted all my documents, three days later to the Immigration. DOL is next to the social security office, so I went inside with my wife to continue with my social security, I'm already paying in for 10 years. Next shock. The school, ( a smaller Anuban is not even registered there, which they should).

Brought some forms for the director back, the coordinator promised me, that the director will go there in the same week and register his school. That was more than two months ago ,and it seems that somebody had completely forgotten about it, as they'll also have to insure their janitors and other employees.

Submitted my bills for work permit and extension of my visa, but no way to get anything reimbursed. The Filipino received at least half of it, I'm making more money was the answer, when I pointed that out.

When I signed my contract I had 20 contact hours. In the end I've got way more. But no extra pay.

I completely feel like a babysitter now, when my co teacher's gone, I've got 39 kids all day long. And she seems to have her own reasons to go to a temple, seminars and other bs.

I was happy when I started, but now I'm a sort of disappointed as there're too many lies. I know all up and down of that not losing face thing, but I'm truly surprised if they really think we're all dumb.

After conducting some seminars for some English teachers, the director finally came to a cool decision. Our kids are off at 3.30, we have to stay until 4.30. He decided that I'll have to teach our teachers English five days a week in this hour.

I really thought that this school would be my final destination, but times are changing. Sorry for my long post, have to go and write 120 questions for an ASEAN competition. And some speeches for a grade three, one for a grade six kid and and and......

I thought that my former school was a real crappy one, but now I'm not sure which one is worse. -

[angsta]

You have an education related degree? Leave, you'll feel better for it. Suck up a year or two in a country where your pay reflects your education and experience. Next question...

[Scott]

In most of the schools I know and most of the teachers I've met have roughly the same problem. It varies from school to school, but the end result is about the same. You teach X number of classes, then they add a few more. Next they add morning gate duty, then morning reading, then supervision of break time. Oh, and on Saturdays, can you interview new students?

I met one teacher who said they left him alone and he was free to come and go as he pleased. I later learned from one of the Thai teachers that he was considered to be a nothing and a nobody and they couldn't be bothered to talk to him. He assumed it was because he was such a good teacher.

And numerous admin think they have the key, or gimmick for teaching children. Of course, it's nothing more than a short cut that doesn't work. These are a part of why Thailand ranks so low in education and why it costs them a lot of money.

Schools do require a lot of work from teachers and the supervision of daily activities is important, but the admin needs to remember they hired a teacher, they did not buy a slave.

[IMA_FARANG]

My mother, now deceased, taught for many years in the U.S.

Let me tell what teachers there MUST do.

As a teacher you are required to be Red Cross certified in case one of the student gets hurt or has a seizure.

You need to pay for that course yourself

There is "playground monitor" duties assigned to you, which means two or three times a month you need to spend at least three hours or until the school playground closes down watching the children play.

There are "parent consultation" nights when you have to be in school available until 7:30 or 8:30 in case a parent comes in to talk about his or her child and there schoolwork,

Quite often once a week, but nobody ever shows up.

The state (depending on which state you work in, different requirements apply) needs you to keep your "teachers certificate" current, usually by taking seminars during the "summer break" to learn the most modern teaching methods.

At your expense of course.

And of course their are those that are told to be "sports monitors" for afterschool "sports" activities.

Almost none of this extra activity is paid for.

There are such activities as Chess Club, Science Club, Future Farmers of America (I'm not making that up),French and Spanish language clubs, etc.

Oh, and I almost forgot "detention" for those sent there for some infraction in school. Must be monitored by a teacher of course.

Oh, and the school she taught in required that as a teacher she had to be there at least one hour before the students arrived and must be there at least an hour after school day ended, EVERY day.

Exactly what were you complaining about now ?

Edited September 14, 2014 by IMA_FARANG

[lostinisaan]

My mother, now deceased, taught for many years in the U.S.

Let me tell what teachers there MUST do.

As a teacher you are required to be Red Cross certified in case one of the student gets hurt or has a seizure.

You need to pay for that course yourself

There is "playground monitor" duties assigned to you, which means two or three times a month you need to spend at least three hours or until the school playground closes down watching the children play.

There are "parent consultation" nights when you have to be in school available until 7:30 or 8:30 in case a parent comes in to talk about his or her child and there schoolwork,

Quite often once a week, but nobody ever shows up.

The state (depending on which state you work in, different requirements apply) needs you to keep your "teachers certificate" current, usually by taking seminars during the "summer break" to learn the most modern teaching methods.

At your expense of course.

And of course their are those that are told to be "sports monitors" for afterschool "sports" activities.

Almost none of this extra activity is paid for.

There are such activities as Chess Club, Science Club, Future Farmers of America (I'm not making that up),French and Spanish language clubs, etc.

Oh, and I almost forgot "detention" for those sent there for some infraction in school. Must be monitored by a teacher of course.

Oh, and the school she taught in required that as a teacher she had to be there at least one hour before the students arrived and must be there at least an hour after school day ended, EVERY day.

Exactly what were you complaining about now ?

Great information, indeed. but I assume that you'll know all that before you sign such a contract, right? But I do feel much better now....

[Scott]

I don't think that anyone is trying to minimize the responsibilities of a teacher. That are 'in loco parentis' and the responsibilities are enormous. But we do not necessarily do things that enhance the education of the school or provide safety. We are paraded out and showcased and then put back in our 'place.' Let me give you some examples:

Our teachers have to attend morning assembly -- not a problem. We were told to stand behind our classes. Then one day we were all unceremoniously shuffled to the front of our classes. We were to face the class, then no, we should turn and face the flag. We were told what to wear and if you had on the wrong color shirt, it was a 50 baht deduction. If you roll up your leaves, you are reprimanded in front of the class.

Our teachers are also required to March with the students and to perform the dance of the month. Again at the capricious spot where they decide we should be standing only to be reprimanded because they changed their mind.

Teachers are not allowed to sit down in the classroom -- for the homeroom teacher that means standing all day and checking the books while standing or leaning over a desk. They are then criticized because the ticking is not neat enough.

So, would I take a first aide class--most certainly (actually I have but I am no longer certified). NO ONE at our school is certified in first aide. Would I stay until the last student is picked up by his parents, reluctantly, but yes. It's what you do when you care about their safety and welfare. Should I stay 1 hour after the last student has left because someone has arbitrarily decided that I should; I think not.

Oh, and when these precious holidays come around that are the big reward for being a teacher, they get shorter by the year. Now it's a matter of a week and 1/2 in October and teachers are expected to take turns coming in on specific days for testing of new students.

It's not the things that go toward the needs/care/education of the students. It's the temperamental and fickle nature of the administration that makes the job less-than-satisfying at times.

[lostinisaan]

I don't think that anyone is trying to minimize the responsibilities of a teacher. That are 'in loco parentis' and the responsibilities are enormous. But we do not necessarily do things that enhance the education of the school or provide safety. We are paraded out and showcased and then put back in our 'place.' Let me give you some examples:

Our teachers have to attend morning assembly -- not a problem. We were told to stand behind our classes. Then one day we were all unceremoniously shuffled to the front of our classes. We were to face the class, then no, we should turn and face the flag. We were told what to wear and if you had on the wrong color shirt, it was a 50 baht deduction. If you roll up your leaves, you are reprimanded in front of the class.

Our teachers are also required to March with the students and to perform the dance of the month. Again at the capricious spot where they decide we should be standing only to be reprimanded because they changed their mind.

Teachers are not allowed to sit down in the classroom -- for the homeroom teacher that means standing all day and checking the books while standing or leaning over a desk. They are then criticized because the ticking is not neat enough.

So, would I take a first aide class--most certainly (actually I have but I am no longer certified). NO ONE at our school is certified in first aide. Would I stay until the last student is picked up by his parents, reluctantly, but yes. It's what you do when you care about their safety and welfare. Should I stay 1 hour after the last student has left because someone has arbitrarily decided that I should; I think not.

Oh, and when these precious holidays come around that are the big reward for being a teacher, they get shorter by the year. Now it's a matter of a week and 1/2 in October and teachers are expected to take turns coming in on specific days for testing of new students.

It's not the things that go toward the needs/care/education of the students. It's the temperamental and fickle nature of the administration that makes the job less-than-satisfying at times.

It's quite frustrating to read your post. Teachers are not allowed to sit down sounds insane to me.

You're absolutely right that the October holidays are getting shorter and shorter.

I always had a full month off. This year I can call myself lucky, when I've got two weeks off. But there's a high possibility that a seminar, or an English camp will destroy any holiday plans......

They don't reimburse me for visa and work permit, as they did for our Filipino, because I make more money?

Now it's not about how much money somebody's making, it's a principle. Yes, or no. Nothing in between.

There's a school in Sisaket, where they totally skipped the October holiday, as a new director took over and made such a decision.

I personally don't have a problem to keep the computer and printer running, as computers and technology is my hobby, so I'm not pissed off about it.

They're asking me what materials I'd need. I wrote a list, starting from markers to copy paper. That was three moons ago. The only way to do my job in a way that I'm successful is to buy my own utensils...

Oh and the newest decision was made yesterday. My Thai co- teacher has to stay there all day long, because somebody complained about the kids that they're too loud, when I'm alone.

Our art teacher doesn't give a flying one, shows up 15 minutes late and leaves 10 minutes early. Kids are running around, but he doesn't seem to care.

Would they say something to him? Of course not.

Our office is right next to the only EP classroom, with two air conditioning units. .Now they'd put a wall in and separated me from the refreshing air.....

I do not go to the flag ceremony anymore, nor do i pray. Before I always had somebody from the school, who made photocopies for me. Now I'm fighting with old machines, which are mostly not working.

There's no way to converse with the science and math teacher, to make sure that they learn their topics first in Thai, then in English.

They greet you, but you know that their smile is fake. Our two computer teachers don't even have an Anti- Virus system on their own machines.

I had a dream..........

Edited September 14, 2014 by lostinisaan

[aarontendo]

Don't forget also, that teachers back home are probably getting about triple an ESLers salary here, more paid vacation time, some of those classes you take are paid for by district or school funds, a better pension (oh wait, a PENSION!), better quality insurance, and often times some form of union protection for your job.

By all means though, please compare the job duties of an ESL teacher in Thailand to a teacher back home.

[lostinisaan]

Don't forget also, that teachers back home are probably getting about triple an ESLers salary here, more paid vacation time, some of those classes you take are paid for by district or school funds, a better pension (oh wait, a PENSION!), better quality insurance, and often times some form of union protection for your job.

By all means though, please compare the job duties of an ESL teacher in Thailand to a teacher back home.

I do not think it's a great idea to take the States as an example to compare Thailand with. Just thinking about my own uncle is an eye opener.

He taught English for 25 years at a high school in Germany, then became the principal, and retired when he was 53 with a full State pension.

He receives 136,000 baht/month now., considering the exchange rate that went down the hill. Not even mentioning the health care system.

Edited September 14, 2014 by lostinisaan

[Mencken]

If its all too much then just tell them that all the crap is too much work for too little pay and if they cannot sort it out in two weeks, you are gone. Give them two weeks, on paper then and there.

I see a flipside. Teachers waffling out of everything possible. Show as late as possible, leave as early as possible. Zero school participation unless forced, and then its just moping about and excuses to be even more late.

If you don't like the terms you signed, do us all a favor snd leave. Thank you.

[aarontendo]

Eh I'll be the first to admit I don't work as hard as I would back home were I using my teaching license there. Honestly all my colleagues and cohort mates tell me stories about 50 - 60 hour weeks. Yes, the benefits are better and certainly it's probably got an element more of stability (and even that is debatable). Nevertheless, part of the reason I wanted to do ESL a bit longer overseas was to try to teach without doing all the extra minutia that makes the job go from 8 hours a day to 12 hours a day. And, just to highlight, this is all year-to-year contract work here. Again, what's the point of busting my ass day and night in that case?

If a school expects me to work my nuts off in a way that teachers do back home, then I fully expect to be taken care of in a similiar fasion to back home. If that's not the case, well certainly thank you for your time but I'll look elsewhere. One of my goals in being here was to have a better work / life balance.

If schools are asking too much of one's time outside of school here, then piss on it and move on. Plenty of other places to get a teaching gig at I reckon.

I think inevitabitly if schools continue to pile the workload on then it's very relevant to compare the hours and position back home. As for me, I do my work on-site, do my marking on site. Anything not done is left for the next work day.

I think Mencken is missing a vital point though, it seems that hte bigger issue here is that people keep getting handed more and more duties and work after signing the contract. That is to say, people did NOT sign up for the terms that are now being dictated.

[kaorop]

Our teachers have to attend morning assembly -- not a problem. We were told to stand behind our classes. Then one day we were all unceremoniously shuffled to the front of our classes. We were to face the class, then no, we should turn and face the flag. We were told what to wear and if you had on the wrong color shirt, it was a 50 baht deduction. If you roll up your leaves, you are reprimanded in front of the class.

Our teachers are also required to March with the students and to perform the dance of the month. Again at the capricious spot where they decide we should be standing only to be reprimanded because they changed their mind.

Teachers are not allowed to sit down in the classroom -- for the homeroom teacher that means standing all day and checking the books while standing or leaning over a desk. They are then criticized because the ticking is not neat enough.

Sounds like a social re-adjustment camp

I've been in some crappy situations, but I would never put up with that for long

though I would do the right thing by the school and provide a replacement

its quite often a sad situation the students for the most part are wonderful, and the un tapped talent pool huge, but in the end looking after no 1 is the only way to survive

Edited September 14, 2014 by kaorop

[inzman]

I would not stay at a school that has such insane rules as not sitting. I also would never work for less than 30k as there are way too many jobs available. They push as long as you backup. Make demands, if they are not met, leave.

[TerryLH]

"By all means though, please compare the job duties of an ESL teacher in Thailand to a teacher back home."

A small point, for sure, but there are not many ESL teachers in Thailand. I'm not sure that I've ever met a real one here.

[aarontendo]

Heh EFL then

[culicine]

I would not stay at a school that has such insane rules as not sitting. I also would never work for less than 30k as there are way too many jobs available. They push as long as you backup. Make demands, if they are not met, leave.

You can bet your butt the Thai teachers are sitting during lessons! Not being able to sit down in the class is insane. 80% of my time I'll be around the room, but sometimes I'll be sitting doing some marking while the students are working.

As an aside, is anyone also asked the rule to do 20 hours of seminars a year? Actually I think this is a rule for the school, and not the teachers per se. There was talk this rule will change to be 100 hours Yes that's 4 weeks of seminars per year, full time. Or is this just for private schools?

I don't mind working hard, but it should be for the benefit of students. Not just mindless admin paperwork.

[meand]

Let's just face it, all the Thais could not care less. There is no way you could convince me otherwise. If you have a student behaving outrageously, you can't even send him to a disciplinary. Why, because no Thai teacher wants to deal with him. The entire education system is a mockery. Farang so should just walk into the classroom, teach, walk out and get the paycheck. That's the end.... There really is nothing more to it because the Thais don't even care themselves.

[Mencken]

I don't sit down in class. I think standing is good excercise. How can you teach conversational English sitting down in Thailand? Not like we are all sitting politely in a circle having a lovely chat. Constantly having to reprimand kids for tslking and electronics. Should not be a rule against it but it us and looks just plain lazy. Teachers would def be on my shix list if I saw them sitting about. Diuble especially if they were not being super active when sitting.

Strong, healthy people should have no problems standing 4-5 hours a day, especially in ac.

I'm not missing any point. ESL employers are shifty the world over. You should expect to work nearly maximum hours which might indeed be 20pw plus an addl hour a day is possible. Gate duty is part of the deal. Where I'm not missing the point is - if it is not working for you in this or any other job, leave. Yes, I do understand how schools and agencies might try to stretch your hours. If nothing else, do your year and leave.

Expect that the job you signed on for is 40 hours. Period. If you are worked more than forty hours, time for a new job. Some of you guys making base pay, especially in this teacher crunch.

I find most teachers here quite lazy and I'm not trying to stir a pot. You go thru agencies, don't check the contract, explore your options, be willing to move if not married and in general take the path of least resistence.

Over course, we all have a need to slip out a bit early now and then but I have zero empathy for anyone that is not at school till 4pm. 8am till 4, that is the deal.

I've noticed the people that really make an effort to cut out as early as possible are the ones that are looking to always game the system. Something for nothing crowd which is massive in Thailand. No reason why shouldn't extend to teaching I guess.

[lostinisaan]

I don't sit down in class. I think standing is good excercise. How can you teach conversational English sitting down in Thailand? Not like we are all sitting politely in a circle having a lovely chat. Constantly having to reprimand kids for tslking and electronics. Should not be a rule against it but it us and looks just plain lazy. Teachers would def be on my shix list if I saw them sitting about. Diuble especially if they were not being super active when sitting.

Strong, healthy people should have no problems standing 4-5 hours a day, especially in ac.

I'm not missing any point. ESL employers are shifty the world over. You should expect to work nearly maximum hours which might indeed be 20pw plus an addl hour a day is possible. Gate duty is part of the deal. Where I'm not missing the point is - if it is not working for you in this or any other job, leave. Yes, I do understand how schools and agencies might try to stretch your hours. If nothing else, do your year and leave.

Expect that the job you signed on for is 40 hours. Period. If you are worked more than forty hours, time for a new job. Some of you guys making base pay, especially in this teacher crunch.

I find most teachers here quite lazy and I'm not trying to stir a pot. You go thru agencies, don't check the contract, explore your options, be willing to move if not married and in general take the path of least resistence.

Over course, we all have a need to slip out a bit early now and then but I have zero empathy for anyone that is not at school till 4pm. 8am till 4, that is the deal.

I've noticed the people that really make an effort to cut out as early as possible are the ones that are looking to always game the system. Something for nothing crowd which is massive in Thailand. No reason why shouldn't extend to teaching I guess.

If you're not allowed to sit down, you've signed a contract as a clown.By the way, it wasn't just about conversational English.-

[Scott]

I am not talking about not being allowed to sit down while teaching. I am talking about Thai teachers not being allowed to sit down at all. They are to stand up and check their books. When a foreign teacher is teaching, they cannot sit down.

Part of the problem in Thailand is the endless minutia about things like this. If you are a good teacher you will behave in a manner that suits teaching effectively. If you are a bad teacher, standing or sitting makes little difference.

[aarontendo]

Eh Mencken does make a little bit of a point. If your job is teaching conversational English I think there's a bit of an expectation that you're always up and talking, circulating, etc. Obviously in a perfect world teachers would only be marking during their prep times but I don't see that there's anything with doing so if students are busily working on a task. Just be sure that everyone's working and that they've understood the instructions.

Part of me wants to say that if the boss walks by it always looks better if you're up and performing, but there's also something to be said if you can keep your classroom managed while still able to get some of your paperwork done =)

[lostinisaan]

I am not talking about not being allowed to sit down while teaching. I am talking about Thai teachers not being allowed to sit down at all. They are to stand up and check their books. When a foreign teacher is teaching, they cannot sit down.

Part of the problem in Thailand is the endless minutia about things like this. If you are a good teacher you will behave in a manner that suits teaching effectively. If you are a bad teacher, standing or sitting makes little difference.

I really love your last sentence a lot. It makes no difference, because you'll be soon fired, after you're hired.- .

.

[meand]

You guys, cmon. Give a lesson, give an exercise, go sit down. If anybody bugs you about just smile like the Thais do, and keep doing it.

[WonnabeBiker]

My mother, now deceased, taught for many years in the U.S.

Let me tell what teachers there MUST do.

As a teacher you are required to be Red Cross certified in case one of the student gets hurt or has a seizure.

You need to pay for that course yourself

There is "playground monitor" duties assigned to you, which means two or three times a month you need to spend at least three hours or until the school playground closes down watching the children play.

There are "parent consultation" nights when you have to be in school available until 7:30 or 8:30 in case a parent comes in to talk about his or her child and there schoolwork,

Quite often once a week, but nobody ever shows up.

The state (depending on which state you work in, different requirements apply) needs you to keep your "teachers certificate" current, usually by taking seminars during the "summer break" to learn the most modern teaching methods.

At your expense of course.

And of course their are those that are told to be "sports monitors" for afterschool "sports" activities.

Almost none of this extra activity is paid for.

There are such activities as Chess Club, Science Club, Future Farmers of America (I'm not making that up),French and Spanish language clubs, etc.

Oh, and I almost forgot "detention" for those sent there for some infraction in school. Must be monitored by a teacher of course.

Oh, and the school she taught in required that as a teacher she had to be there at least one hour before the students arrived and must be there at least an hour after school day ended, EVERY day.

Exactly what were you complaining about now ?

Great information, indeed. but I assume that you'll know all that before you sign such a contract, right? But I do feel much better now....

What's your level of professional satisfaction or dissatisfaction?

We just bought a fancy large screen Sony TV costing likely up to 3 x my monthly salary. Now Thai shows are on most of the time... The BBC, Bloomberg or some English speaking channel like channel News Asia would actually help the Thai teachers. Yes, we are set up for these channels. No, they don't want to be exposed to proper English.

"Not in the budget" has been the excuse when the teachers' toilet was stopped up. A stinking mess for days and days. Some classrooms need some inexpensive part or a bulb for the projector or something. But these schools are not putting the students first, then working backwards.

@Lostin Isaan - what will you do now? Change jobs after the October salary was paid?

BTW, I've been suckered by being given something to sign in Thai which turned out to be the contract. No copies for me, ever (of course).

Be careful guys and don't sign anything you can't read or had a friend vetted first...

[WonnabeBiker]

Eh Mencken does make a little bit of a point. If your job is teaching conversational English I think there's a bit of an expectation that you're always up and talking, circulating, etc. Obviously in a perfect world teachers would only be marking during their prep times but I don't see that there's anything with doing so if students are busily working on a task. Just be sure that everyone's working and that they've understood the instructions.

Part of me wants to say that if the boss walks by it always looks better if you're up and performing, but there's also something to be said if you can keep your classroom managed while still able to get some of your paperwork done =)

After an observation at a government school (where some students had neither a chair nor a desk to write on), I was chewed out for "not having had the students clean the classroom first". so the Thai HoD would have loved to junk a lesson - but let's have the classroom look nice (until the next horde comes in and starts littering like crazy).

As for walking around, that was something I was reprimanded for by another HoD.

While during some induction course, that was what the South African trainer urged us to do.

If I could have Thais do one thing, I would ask them to please say what you mean and mean what you say!

[aarontendo]

Well to be fair anything a Thai instructor does is probably wrong, so just do the opposite. This goes double for anything being told to you by a Thai HoD.

[lostinisaan]

My mother, now deceased, taught for many years in the U.S.

Let me tell what teachers there MUST do.

As a teacher you are required to be Red Cross certified in case one of the student gets hurt or has a seizure.

You need to pay for that course yourself

There is "playground monitor" duties assigned to you, which means two or three times a month you need to spend at least three hours or until the school playground closes down watching the children play.

There are "parent consultation" nights when you have to be in school available until 7:30 or 8:30 in case a parent comes in to talk about his or her child and there schoolwork,

Quite often once a week, but nobody ever shows up.

The state (depending on which state you work in, different requirements apply) needs you to keep your "teachers certificate" current, usually by taking seminars during the "summer break" to learn the most modern teaching methods.

At your expense of course.

And of course their are those that are told to be "sports monitors" for afterschool "sports" activities.

Almost none of this extra activity is paid for.

There are such activities as Chess Club, Science Club, Future Farmers of America (I'm not making that up),French and Spanish language clubs, etc.

Oh, and I almost forgot "detention" for those sent there for some infraction in school. Must be monitored by a teacher of course.

Oh, and the school she taught in required that as a teacher she had to be there at least one hour before the students arrived and must be there at least an hour after school day ended, EVERY day.

Exactly what were you complaining about now ?

Great information, indeed. but I assume that you'll know all that before you sign such a contract, right? But I do feel much better now....

What's your level of professional satisfaction or dissatisfaction?

We just bought a fancy large screen Sony TV costing likely up to 3 x my monthly salary. Now Thai shows are on most of the time... The BBC, Bloomberg or some English speaking channel like channel News Asia would actually help the Thai teachers. Yes, we are set up for these channels. No, they don't want to be exposed to proper English.

"Not in the budget" has been the excuse when the teachers' toilet was stopped up. A stinking mess for days and days. Some classrooms need some inexpensive part or a bulb for the projector or something. But these schools are not putting the students first, then working backwards.

@Lostin Isaan - what will you do now? Change jobs after the October salary was paid?

BTW, I've been suckered by being given something to sign in Thai which turned out to be the contract. No copies for me, ever (of course).

Be careful guys and don't sign anything you can't read or had a friend vetted first...

I won't give up that easy. Trying to do it the "Thai way." Pointing things out, that it seems the ideas came from them. If that doesn't work, well, then it's time to look for another job.

I can only put up with that crap, because I'm doing that for so long.

But I'll never start to lick their asses to keep a job.You know, the "Ajarn up, and Ajarn down" stuff....

Edited September 15, 2014 by lostinisaan

[lostinisaan]

Well to be fair anything a Thai instructor does is probably wrong, so just do the opposite. This goes double for anything being told to you by a Thai HoD.

Same goes when they tell you, that you're an excellent teacher, but.................

[WonnabeBiker]

I am not talking about not being allowed to sit down while teaching. I am talking about Thai teachers not being allowed to sit down at all. They are to stand up and check their books. When a foreign teacher is teaching, they cannot sit down.

Part of the problem in Thailand is the endless minutia about things like this. If you are a good teacher you will behave in a manner that suits teaching effectively. If you are a bad teacher, standing or sitting makes little difference.

I've often wondered about this. I've seen countless Thai teachers sit down and do "their personal things" like texting. while assistant teachers often don't even show up (why bother with advance notice?) or when they show up, walk out to make private phone calls etc.

Just saying.

[aarontendo]

Well to be fair anything a Thai instructor does is probably wrong, so just do the opposite. This goes double for anything being told to you by a Thai HoD.

Same goes when they tell you, that you're an excellent teacher, but.................

Pretty much, though I'll say I never get accused of that. May have to do with my refusal to Mickey Mouse my classroom.